The Wolverines, though, have found a QB to help them close out this season and to generate high hopes for next year.
But right now, Michigan and its fans have only one game in mind.
Early in the fourth quarter, the crowd at the Big House started to chant: "Beat O-HI-O! Beat O-HI-O!"
Like Hoke, maize-and-blue clad fans don't say "State," when referring to the rival Buckeyes.
Hoke didn't like what he heard.
"I said to somebody next to me, 'We need to beat Iowa,'" he recalled.
That didn't prove to be difficult.
The Wolverines did what they wanted through the air and on the ground against the Hawkeyes, who were shut down offensively after kicking a field goal to make it 14-10 early in the second quarter.
Gardner was 18 of 23 for 314 yards with TD passes to Roy Roundtree, Vincent Smith and Devin Funchess. Gardner ran for 37 yards, scoring on three short runs to lead a barrage of points that finally ended late in the third quarter.
Robinson ran 13 times for 98 yards, including a 40-yard sprint that included quite a juke along the sideline in the senior's last home game. He took some snaps, but didn't throw a pass.
"I just wanted to get on the field and do whatever I could to help our team," Robinson said. "That's how I've been my whole career."
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Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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